Electrolytic magnetic cell device and a method for producing hypochlorous acid and other disinfectant chlorine oxidants

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method, system and equipment for the elaboration of electrolytic chlorine oxidants, hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite substances, using elements that result in an ecological process and confers a high efficiency in the production of these substances, permitting the generation of a product of very high performance and efficiency.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A serially connected electrolytic cell equipment, each cell comprising:
 a first pipe shaped chamber comprising a hollow metallic cylindrical anode having a cooling channel in the center; said cooling channel comprising two coils; a coil for recycling of anolyte or anodic phase and a coil for recycling the catholyte or cathodic phase; 
 a second chamber comprising a cylindrical hollow grid structured cathode for providing uniform current density; said cathode surrounding the anode in a coaxial arrangement; 
 a cylindrical housing enclosing the anode and the cathode; said cylindrical housing having a top and a bottom cover; 
 an ion selective membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; 
 a plurality of inlet ports for introducing a cooling liquid, an anodic solution and a cathodic solution into the said cell; 
 a plurality of outlet ports for electrolytic products to exit said cell; 
 an external magnetic field generating device located at the exterior of the housing to produce a magnetic field with flow lines parallel to the axis of the coaxial arrangement, perpendicular to the planes of the covers and to the direction of the stream of ionic migration produced in the electrolytic process; wherein the external magnetic field generating device further comprises an arrangement of metals of high magnetic permeability to produce a desired magnetic field; said metal of high magnetic permeability is a metal selected from Mu metals or a Supermalloy capable of orientation or alignment of the magnetic field to obtain flow lines completely parallel to the axial axis of the coaxial arrangement and perpendicular to the planes of the covers and direction of stream of ionic migration produced in the electrolytic process; and 
 a reactor from each zone of the plurality of serially connected cells provides stoichiometric reaction of the corresponding electrolyte with gases originating from the anodic and cathodic zones from the cells to obtain a stoichiometric ratio and to generate a final balance of a compound product mix having a high efficiency, stability and high performance. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the anode is a material selected from titanium, platinum or titanium covered by platinum or other surface material resistant to the corrosive actions of the used substances. 
     
     
       3. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the cathode is a hollow grid permeable to liquids made of metal selected from titanium, covered with platinum or corrosion resistant alloys, and dimensionally stable. 
     
     
       4. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the anode and cathode have similar surface area. 
     
     
       5. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the ion selective membrane provides an efficient anodic and cathodic separation and the application of electric potential for the electrolysis. 
     
     
       6. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the ion selective membrane further comprises a polymeric support. 
     
     
       7. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , wherein in each corresponding chambers, further comprises gases of each phase which are cumulated and are located in the upper part of each one of anodic and cathodic zones or sections, hydrogen gas being separated in the cathodic zone or section and chlorine gas in the anodic zone or section. 
     
     
       8. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the metallic, cylindrical and hollow anode, further comprises a channel for the cooling liquid running from an upper external zone of the cell, to a lower external zone of the cell, with the port entrance of the cooling duct and simultaneously in time acting as terminal of connection of positive pole, and the exit of the cooling water to maintain the solution that is subjected to electrolysis in a controlled temperature. 
     
     
       9. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the metallic, cylindrical and hollow anode further comprises a central channel wherein the coolant is recycled in order to maintain the temperature at a range of about 10° C. to about 50° C. for an adequate control of the process. 
     
     
       10. The electrolytic according to  claim 1 , further comprising two circular supports in both the top and bottom ends of the membrane that make up part of a rigid cell, supporting both ends of the ion selective membrane. 
     
     
       11. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 10 , wherein the ends of the membrane are manipulated in order to avoid movements and position shifts, and that in combination with the fixed anode and cathode, separates the two areas in the electrolytic process. 
     
     
       12. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , further comprises upper and lower supports of the cathode, anode, ion membrane and further comprises an external rigid wall in coaxial arrangement, conforms a rigid chamber, and in assembly makes up the structural surrounding of the cell that contains the anodic section and cathodic section where electrolyte is recycled and where the accumulation of chlorine gas and hydrogen takes place. 
     
     
       13. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinal external rigid support of the membrane and electrodes which are superior to that of the membrane, to allow the existence of the two sections for the collection of gases in the upper part of each cell. 
     
     
       14. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell generates chlorine oxidants of substantially high purity for sterilizing effectively at least one of the microorganisms selected from  Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Listeria monocytogenes, Micrococcus Luteus, Salmonella enteritidis, Streptococcus faecalis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteus mirabilis, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Vibrio cholerae , or  Aspergillus niger.    
     
     
       15. A system for electrolysis to produce chloride oxidants, hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite comprising:
 a) a plurality of serially connected electrolytic cells according  claim 1 , each cell having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; 
 b) a plurality of serially connected cooling chambers, each chamber having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; 
 c) wherein an inlet of each successive cell being connected with an outlet of the cooling chamber to transfer the electrolyte between the cells and the chamber; 
 d) wherein an inlet of each successive cooling chamber being connected with an outlet of the processing cell to transfer the electrolyte between the cells and the chamber; 
 e) wherein at the end of electrolytic processing cell and cooling of the series, a reactor from each zone of the plurality of serially connected cells provides stoichiometric reaction of the corresponding electrolyte with gases originating from the anodic and cathodic zones from the cells to obtain a stoichiometric ratio and to generate a final balance of a compound product mix having a high efficiency, stability and high performance. 
 
     
     
       16. A method for generating chloride oxidants, hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite comprising the following:
 a) introducing an aqueous alkali metal halide into one of serially connected electrolytic cell equipment, said electrolytic cell comprising:
 a solid structured, metallic, cylindrical and hollow anode having a cooling channel in the center; 
 said cooling channel comprising two coils or cooling channel; a coil for recycling of anolyte or anodic phase and a coil for recycling the catholyte or cathodic phase; 
 a cylindrical hollow grid structured cathode for providing uniform current density; 
 said cathode surrounding the anode in a coaxial arrangement; 
 a cylindrical housing enclosing the anode and the cathode; said cylindrical housing having a top and a bottom cover; 
 an ion selective membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; 
 a plurality of inlet ports for introducing a cooling liquid, anodic solution and cathodic solution into said cell; 
 a plurality of outlet ports for electrolytic products to exit said cell; and 
 
 an external magnetic field generating device located at the exterior of the housing to produce a magnetic field with flow lines parallel to the axis of the coaxial arrangement, perpendicular to the planes of the covers and to the direction of the stream of ionic migration produced in the electrolytic process; wherein the external magnetic field generating device further comprises an arrangement of metals of high magnetic permeability to produce a desired magnetic field; said metal of high magnetic permeability is a metal selected from Mu metals or a Supermalloy capable of orientation or alignment of the magnetic field to obtain flow lines completely parallel to the axial axis of the coaxial arrangement and perpendicular to the planes of the covers and direction of stream of ionic migration produced in the electrolytic process. 
 b) connecting in series the outlet and inlet anionic and cationic ports of each serially connected cells; connecting the equipment to a cooling chamber such that the phases for anodic and cathodic substances are subjected to cooling; 
 c) applying electric potential for the electrolysis; 
 d) conducting the method at a temperature of about 10° C. to about 50° C.; 
 e) maintaining the temperature of the solution; 
 f) applying a magnetic field to the equipment; 
 g) recycling the anodic phase and cathodic phase through a number of serially connected cells; 
 h) discharging anodic and cathodic substances into balance reactor; 
 i) controlling the dose of each substance into the reactor to control the physicochemical Properties of final product; and 
 j) collecting the electrolysis products. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein in each corresponding chambers, gases of each phase are cumulated and are located in the upper part of each one of the anodic and cathodic zones or sections, hydrogen gas being separated in the cathodic zone and chlorine gas in the anodic zone. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 15  wherein the anode is a material selected from titanium, platinum or titanium covered by platinum or other surface resistant to the corrosive actions of the used substances and the cathode is a material permeable to liquids selected from titanium, covered with platinum corrosion resistance alloys, and dimensionally stable. 
     
     
       19. A method for disinfecting or sterilizing a substrate selected from tissue, substance or an article by an electrolytic product obtained from the method according to  claim 14  comprising applying the product to the substrate for use as a base for the production of asepsis substances and for diverse cures, a diverse array of affected infections, wounds, traumas, for skin and other oriented applications for the asepsis of living organisms or parts, components, hospital equipments and instruments or for surgical purposes, including other context of the use of asepsis as the food industry and public services, public health and environments specific for medical use, veterinary science, or sustenance and purification of water. 
     
     
       20. A method for disinfecting or sterilizing a substrate selected from tissue, material or article by an electrolytic product obtained from the method according to  claim 14  comprising applying the product to the substrate wherein at least one of the microorganisms selected from  Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Listeria monocytogenes, Micrococcus Luteus, Salmonella enteritidis, Streptococcus faecalis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteus mirabilis, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Vibrio cholerae , or  Aspergillus niger  is effectively sterilized. 
     
     
       21. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1  wherein the electrolytic cell is connected to a cooling cell where the phases or the anodic and cathodic substances are subjected to cooling without any contact between said solutions. 
     
     
       22. The electrolytic cell according to  claim 1  wherein the electrolytic cell further comprises cells in series with their cooling systems between each one of them, such that each time the cathodic or anodic substance is passed through a new cell, the substance is submitted to electrolysis until in balance reactor, the product reaches the depletion of sodium chloride, leaving residuals of concentration of from about 5% to about 10% of the salt in the solution.